Aston Villa shock contenders to sign Manchester City star

Aston Villa are listed as shock 8/1 outsiders to sign Manchester City keeper Joe Hart this summer, placing them as fourth favourites to snap up the England international with Sky Bet.

Villa chairman Dr. Tony Xia certainly hasn’t enjoyed a quiet first year with the Midlands club, and has never been far from the public eye.

After splashing huge money on the likes of Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan, Birkir Bjarnasson, Conor Hourihane and Mile Jedinak last season to little avail, Villa were expected to have a quiet summer of spending, with Bruce given minimal financial resources with which to build the squad.

However, whilst their transfer activity is being dwarfed by the huge spending of Fosun International over at divisional rivals Wolves, Villa are making statements in the market themselves this summer.

Steve Bruce pulled off one of the biggest transfers the Championship has ever seen with the signing of John Terry on a bumper contract believed to be in the region of £4 million for one season, and the spending is unlikely to slow down.

Now the club could be in the running to sign England number 1 stopper Joe Hart, who finds himself out of favour at City and on his way out of the club following the signing of Ederson from Benfica.

Villa are priced at 8/1 to sign the 30-year-old, behind the likes of West Ham, newly-promoted Newcastle United and Premier League giants Manchester United, and whilst a deal remains unlikely, with the likes of John Terry and Ruben Neves making moves into the Championship, more high-profile players could follow suit.